I can't catch a break. Sangria's cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) has likely returned, and I'm not coping.

[FrothOnTheDaydream]

At this point, I'm convinced the universe hates me. I'm not even joking.

You all know that Pluie had a suspicious oral mass recently. We took her to another city to see a very expensive specialist. Thankfully, it was a benign granuloma. Surgery and an extraction healed it completely! The specialist, surgery, tests, and the two times we had to see our general vet before seeing the specialist resulted in us spending approximately $3,500.

You all probably also know that Sangria, the cat in my picture, had cholangiocarcinoma in 2022. We took her to a specialist too, and they were able to remove the mass with excellent margins. It cost $5,000. It was well worth it because she has been cancer-free since!

Well, the other day when I picked her up, I felt a small lump on her belly. The general vet says it is adhered to her abdominal wall. She took an FNA which was sent back to cytology. She also took x-rays. Cytology came back as highly suspicious for carcinoma. The general vet thinks her cholangiocarcinoma is likely back and has metastasized to create this lump. She admitted she couldn't make heads or tails of the x-ray, though.

So, back to the specialist hospital this upcoming Thursday. I feel hopeless. If this is a return of cholangiocarcinoma, I'm not putting her through another surgery. The first surgery had a rough recovery period, and Sangria is 15 now. I think we're looking at palliative care, which breaks my heart. She deserves so much more than for me to just give up on her and let her die.

I'm stressed and heartbroken. My finances suck. I just overall feel pessimistic and lost.

 

[tiggerwillow]

I'm so sorry, 15 is a good age though, please look after yourself as well as her

 

[FrothOnTheDaydream]

I'm so sorry, 15 is a good age though, please look after yourself as well as her

I just can't imagine her not being here, you know? We adopted her 10 years ago, but it doesn't feel like we've had her that long. Thank you, I'm going to try to look after myself too. I've been putting all my energy into caring for her and not really sleeping or taking time for myself.

 

[tiggerwillow]

I just can't imagine her not being here, you know? We adopted her 10 years ago, but it doesn't feel like we've had her that long. Thank you, I'm going to try to look after myself too. I've been putting all my energy into caring for her and not really sleeping or taking time for myself.

I know, it completely broke me when cancers stole my Ebony (estimated age: 7)

Spend as much time with her as you can, and when it's her time please stay with her, she'll find it comforting to have a familiar face there, I stayed with my Ebony and I don't regret doing so

 

[FrothOnTheDaydream]

I know, it completely broke me when cancers stole my Ebony (estimated age: 7)

Spend as much time with her as you can, and when it's her time please stay with her, she'll find it comforting to have a familiar face there, I stayed with my Ebony and I don't regret doing so

I'm so sorry about your loss. It's really never easy. I've always stayed with my pets in the end even if doing so was difficult. In fact, I can't imagine NOT being there in that final moment.

 

[fionasmom]

I am very sorry that you are facing what is a possible recurrence of the original cancer. Please don’t tell yourself that you are giving up on her and letting her die because that is not what you are doing. When my last German Shepherd was about 15 he was diagnosed with an anal adenocarcinoma. He had had quite the medical history with other conditions, and even though the specialty hospital did clear him for surgery, I decided that I would not put him through it. He lived the remainder of his life in comfort receiving palliative care and the tumor itself to cause no physical problems for him. Finances are definitely a part of this consideration, so please do not feel guilty about that either.